The Mark White Show

On this Make a Difference Minute, board-certified OB/GYN and menopause care specialist Dr. Diana Bittner discusses why some women hesitate to talk with their healthcare providers about hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.

For some, it’s something they were raised not to discuss. For others, it’s the fear of being labeled as old or simply not knowing what treatment options are available.

Dr. Bittner encourages women to speak openly about their symptoms, ask questions, and work with their healthcare providers to find care that meets their individual needs.

No woman should feel that she has to remain silent about concerns affecting her health, relationships, or quality of life.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Hydration Lounge, a proud community partner of The Mark White Show. We appreciate their support as we continue sharing stories of encouragement, service, and people making a difference in their communities.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

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If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3

Tonight on The Mark White Show, we’re talking about understanding a major life change & helping local children enjoy Christmas.

First, board-certified OB/GYN and menopause care specialist Dr. Diana Bitner joins me for Menopause Awareness Month. We’ll discuss moderate to severe hot flashes, their impact on everyday life, and how women can talk with their healthcare provider about symptoms and treatment options. Whether you’re experiencing menopause or want to better support someone you love, this conversation is for you.

Then, Athens Fire & Rescue firefighter & EMT Scott Jackson shares about Shop with a Firefighter, an effort helping children in Athens and Limestone County. Each participating child receives $200 for toys and essentials while shopping alongside a firefighter. Scott shares why this experience means so much to the children and the people who make it possible, including moments when children want to buy gifts for their parents instead of themselves.

You’ll also learn how direct donations and child sponsorships can help make Christmas special for a local family.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

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If shows like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3

When a family wonders what the future holds for their child, the people who welcome them can make a lasting difference.

Tonight, On the Road with Bankston Motor Homes, I’m introducing you to the RISE Center, Tuscaloosa at the The University of Alabama through my conversation with director Andi Gillen. I visited the classrooms and saw teachers encouraging curiosity, celebrating effort, and helping children with and without disabilities learn together.

Andi shares the commitment behind that work, the Stallings family’s lasting connection, and how community support helps RISE serve children with disabilities without charging their families tuition.

Please share this with a parent, educator, or someone looking for an opportunity to make a difference.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

On this Make a Difference Minute, Andi Gillen, Director of the RISE Center, Tuscaloosa at The University of Alabama, shares how an experience in elementary school helped shape her life’s work.

Andi always knew she wanted to be a teacher. However, it was an opportunity to help in a classroom serving children with disabilities that helped her discover where she wanted to make a difference.

That experience led her toward special education and a career dedicated to helping children who need additional support.

Learn more about the RISE Center at risecenter.ua.edu.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bama Estate Planning by Attorney Harlan D. Mitchell, a proud community partner of The Mark White Show. We appreciate their support as we continue sharing stories of encouragement, service, and people making a difference in their communities.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3

Helping someone begins with listening to what matters to them.

Tonight, Dr. Kasee Stratton-Gadke joins me from Mississippi State University’s T.K. Martin Center to share how her team helps children, adults, and families pursue their goals. We’ll talk about communication, independence, and the people making those opportunities possible.

Through The Mark White Show on the Road with Bankston Motor Homes, I had the opportunity to see their work firsthand, and I’m excited to introduce you to this team’s commitment to making a difference.

Listen, share, support.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™

On this Make a Difference Minute, Dr. Kasee Stratton-Gadke with the TK Martin Center for Technology and Disability at Mississippi State University shares how a childhood friendship helped inspire her passion for working with individuals with disabilities.

That early experience, combined with lessons learned from a father raising a child with a rare genetic condition, helped shape her approach to serving individuals and families.

Dr. Stratton-Gadke explains why listening to families, understanding their goals, and respecting what matters most in their daily lives are essential to making a meaningful difference.

Learn more about the T.K. Martin Center at TKMartin.msstate.edu.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Premier Structures, Inc., a proud community partner of The Mark White Show. We appreciate their support as we continue sharing stories of encouragement, service, and people making a difference in their communities.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

___________________________________

If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3

Dr. David Wallace can explain three million volts of lightning, but the connection he has with his students is where the real story resides.

On this episode, you'll meet an MSU professor whose lifelong curiosity became a passion for teaching. From hands-on lessons in the MSU High Voltage Laboratory to students showing up for him during his cancer battle, this conversation reveals a true difference maker who is deeply loved.

Join me for The Mark White Show: On the Road with Bankston Motor Homes. You don’t have to understand electricity to appreciate the teacher behind it.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™

On this Make a Difference Minute, Dr. David Wallace, Director of the MSU High Voltage Laboratory and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University, will share how 30 years of industry experience help him bring classroom lessons to life.

Dr. Wallace explains why understanding electrical engineering theory is only part of the learning process. By taking students into the laboratory, he can demonstrate how those principles work in real-world applications & help prepare them for careers in the industry.

You can learn more about Mississippi State University and its High Voltage Laboratory at msstate.edu.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bankston Motor Homes, a proud community partner of The Mark White Show. We appreciate their support as we continue sharing stories of encouragement, service, and people making a difference in their communities.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

Tonight, I’m taking you to the Colbert County Courthouse in Tuscumbia, Alabama, for my conversation with District Judge Chad Smith.

When I saw my friend at the Attention Homes of NW Alabama fundraiser dinner, he began telling me about their accountability programs and invited me over to learn more. I’m glad he did.

Judge Smith shares how drug court, veterans treatment court, and family treatment court are helping people work toward recovery, rebuild relationships, and care for their families while being held accountable. He also talks about the people behind these efforts and what it means to watch someone graduate who has gotten their life back.

You’ll hear why awareness matters, too. Judge Smith shared that mothers have reached out after learning about veterans treatment court through news coverage. One of those connections led to a participant entering the program & graduating.

I hope you’ll listen and share this conversation. Someone you care about may need to know these opportunities exist.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™

___________________________________

If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3

On this Make a Difference Minute, Mama Sue Garrett shares how Mama Sue’s Southern Kitchen began with simple pictures of what she was cooking for supper.

What started as sharing meals with friends grew into cooking videos, a cookbook that sold 870 copies in its first 24 hours, and a following that now exceeds one million!

Mama Sue’s story is a reminder that sharing something you love can open doors you never imagined.

This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by Bankston Motor Homes, a proud community partner of The Mark White Show. We appreciate their support as we continue sharing stories of encouragement, service, and people making a difference in their communities.

Real stories.

Real people.

Real impact.

News That Unites!™️

___________________________________

If stories like this are why you follow The Mark White Show, I’d appreciate your vote in the Top Host competition. This opportunity could help me recognize more difference-makers, share overlooked stories, and connect people with help.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours, and no donation is required. If you choose to donate for additional votes, funds raised through the competition help support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation through a grant from AIT. The foundation creates interactive media studios in children’s hospitals nationwide.

Thank you for supporting the work I care so much about!

VOTE: tophost.org/2026/mark-white-3